-Fishing Regulations: https://go.usa.gov/xmsG5

Need help getting started? Visit the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources’ website at fw.ky.gov and type, “Learn to Fish,” in the search box. Here you’ll find instructional videos covering knot tying and preparing a fish for the table.

Don’t know where to fish? Click the “Fishing” tab on the department website to access the annual fishing forecast for great tips and places to try.

The fishing page also includes a link to the Fishing in Neighborhoods (FINs) lakes. FINs offers dozens of easily accessible, specially stocked lakes near population centers throughout the state.

Special Events – Watch for more 2025 Events

Fayette County
Cops and Bobbers
June 7, 2025
10 am – 1 pm
Gainesway Park 
Free facepainting and food!

Bullitt County
Fishing derby at Jim Beam Lake in Clermont. Open for youths 15 and under, and their families. Fishing from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Eastern). Registration begins at 8 a.m. Families may also register by clicking here. Experts will teach casting, catching, fish identification and fileting. Trophies for big fish, most fish and little fish. Limited food and drinks proved by the Bullitt County Rod and Gun Club. Presented by the Kentucky Conservation Officer’s Association, Bullitt County Rod and Gun Club and Jim Beam Distilleries. Directions: From I-65, take Exit 112, and turn onto Clermont Road (KY 245) towards Bardstown. In 1.5 miles, turn right onto Horticulture Area Road.

Campbell County: Youth Fishing Derby, Alexandria Community Park, 3965 Alexandria Dr., Alexandria, Ky. Fishing from 10 a.m. – noon (Eastern). For kids 14 and younger. Free lunch and free t-shirt while supplies last. Prizes. Kids should bring their own fishing equipment and bait.

Clay County: Redbird Ranger District Kid’s Fishing Derby, Little Double Creek Pond, located behind office at 91 Peabody Road, Big Creek, Ky. Fishing from 9 a.m. to noon (Eastern). Registration begins at 8 a.m. For ages 3-15. Limit two rods per registered participant. Call (606) 598-2192 for more information.

Daviess County: Take A Kid Fishing Day, Panther Creek Park, Feather Landing Shelter, 5160 Wayne Bridge Rd, Owensboro. Registration at 8 a.m. (Central) Fishing
starts at 9 a.m. Open to all ages. Lunch at 11 a.m. While limited fishing poles and bait will be available, participants with their own equipment and supplies should bring it. To register by phone, call (270) 685-1707, ext. 3.

Franklin County: Family Fishing Day, headquarters campus of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, 1 Sportsman’s Lane, Frankfort. Upper Sportsman’s
Lake (adjacent to main headquarters building; largest lake on campus) open for youths 15 and younger only from 8 a.m. – noon (Eastern). Lake open to everyone to fish after noon. Bring your own bait; limited number of fishing poles will be available. Hot dogs provided, drawing for prizes. Upper Sportsman’s Lake will receive a special stocking of fish Friday, June 6; the lake will close afterward to all fishing then reopen the following day. Lower Sportsman’s Lake will remain open the entire time to all anglers.

Hopkins County: 25th Annual Kiwanis Take A Kid Fishing Day, Madisonville City Park Lake, 1950 Park Rd., Madisonville. Sponsored by the Madisonville Noon Kiwanis Club. Fishing tournament for kids 15 and under from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. An adult must accompany each child. Bring your own pole and bait. Only one pole per child. Online pre-registration available at the Madisonville Noon Kiwanis Club’s Facebook page.

Johnson County: Casting With Kids, Paintsville Lake State Park, 1551 KY 2275 Staffordsville. Three events over two days. Every child will receive a free fishing pole, bucket and T-shirt. Billed as the nation’s biggest free kid’s tournament. Friday, June 6: Fishing for kids with special needs from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. Registration begins at 5 p.m. Saturday, June 7: two events, fishing for younger kids, kayak fishing for older youth.  First event: open to all kids ages 4-12. Onsite sign-up and registration from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Weigh-in for catches from 10:30 a.m. until noon. Second event: Kylie’s Kids Fishing Tournament for kayaks, for ages 13-18. Must bring own kayak; use Paintsville Lake’s new kayak launch. See the Casting for Kids Facebook site for more details.

Kenton County: Kid’s Fishing Derby, Middleton-Mills Park, 3415 Mills Rd., Covington. For kids of all ages, from 9 a.m. – noon (Eastern). Participants encouraged to bring their own fishing equipment, limited amount of loaner equipment available courtesy the Northern Kentucky Fly Fishers. Prizes awarded throughout the event. Lunch available for purchase from Northern Kentucky Baseball. Presented by Kenton County Parks and Recreation.

Madison County: Kid’s Fishing Derby, Lake Reba Park (boat dock area), 299 Lake Reba Drive, Richmond. Registration begins at 8 a.m. (Eastern) Fishing from 8 a.m. 10 a.m. For children 16 and under. Bring your own fishing equipment. For more information, call (859) 623-8753 or email parksandrec@richmond.ky.us.

McCracken County: Noble Park Fish Out, Lake Gerry Montgomery in Noble Park, 2801 Park Ave., Paducah. For kids ages 5-12. Free registration begins at 8:30 a.m.
(Central) at Shelter 10 (across the road from Noble Park Pool). Fish from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. Catch and release tournament, ask a staff member to measure and record the fish one at a time. Limited amount fishing equipment and bait available from Paducah Parks and Recreation; anglers should bring their own gear and bait if they have it. Awards for longest fish and most fish caught. Goodie bags will be handed out to the first 75 people to register.

McCreary County: Barren Fork Horse Camp, located behind Stearns Ranger Station, 3320 U.S. 27 North, Whitley City. Registration begins at 7 a.m. (Eastern) with fishing from 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. For ages 5-15. Prizes and free hot dog lunch. An adult must accompany children. Participants must bring their own fishing poles, bait and equipment. Call (606) 376-5323 for more information.

Menifee County: Kids Fishing Event, East Fork Indian Creek, Red River Gorge area. Fishing in the creek from 9 a.m. (Eastern) until noon for kids 5-15. Register onsite from 8 a.m.to 10 a.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult; one pole per child. Drawing for registered participants at end of event. Adults may fish after the event. From Slade, take Campton Road north to Nada Tunnel Road. Take Nada Tunnel Road to N Fork Road. Take a left on to N Fork Road and follow the Red River to Indian Creek Road. Turn right onto Indian Creek Road to Pebble Beach Trailhead parking area. Contact the Cumberland Ranger District at 606-784-6428 for more information.

Meade County: Kid’s Fishing Derby at Camp Carlson Lake (Fort Knox), 9186 U.S. 60, Muldraugh. Hosted by VFW Post 10281. For kids 15 and under; kids do not need to have family in the military to participate. Bring your own bait and fishing equipment; limited number of loaner poles available. Check in from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. (Eastern). Mandatory safety briefing at 9:45 a.m., fishing begins at 10 a.m. Event limited to 350 children; participants must pre-register by June 4. No day-of registration. Pre- registration available at the Sadowski Center, 6607 Wilson Road, Ft. Knox from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, or by emailing kidsfishingderby10281@gmail.com. Call (502) 624- 1838 for more information.

Montgomery County: Smith Family Fishing in the Park, Easy Walker Park Lake, 1395 Osborne Road, Mt Sterling. Registration begins at 8 a.m. (Eastern). First cast begins at 9 a.m. For kids ages 15 and under. Kids must cast and reel themselves. Bring your own pole. Prizes for biggest fish, smallest fish and most weight. No catfish will be weighed.

Oldham County: Eagle Creek Golf Course, 2820 South Highway 53, LaGrange. Sponsored by La Grange Parks and Recreation. Event from 10 a.m.- noon. Bring your own pole and bait. Prizes given away all morning.

Rowan County: Cave Run Kids Fishing Derby, presented by Teach Me Outdoors, Inc.  Minor Clark Fish Hatchery, 120 Fish Hatchery Rd. Morehead. This is one of the biggest fishing events in Kentucky for kids; online registration accepted through 6 p.m. (Eastern) May 26 by clicking here. Some walk-up anglers may be accepted on the day of the event until capacity is reached. Free fishing from 7 a.m.-11 a.m.  Gates open at 6:00 a.m.  For kids ages 15 and under. Children
must be accompanied by an adult. Limited poles and bait provided, but participants are encouraged to bring their own bait and equipment. Event features three ponds stocked with various fish, including trout and catfish. Several raffles, each kid gets a small gift. For more information, call (606) 783-8650.

Russell County: Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery’s 37th Annual Catch A Rainbow Kid’s Fishing Derby, 50 Kendall Rd., Jamestown. Registration begins at 8 a.m.
(Central), with fishing from 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. for kids up to age 15. Fishing times allotted by age, with youngest anglers going first. Anglers older than 4 should bring their own fishing equipment and bait; kiddie fishing pool available from 9 a.m. until noon for children under 5, with fishing equipment provided. Fly rods not permitted during this event. This is one of the largest kids fishing events in Kentucky, with as many as 1,500 kids fishing throughout the day. Presented by Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery and The Friends of Wolf Creek NFH. Call (270) 343-3797 for more information, or email Marsha_Hart@fws.gov or Makenzie_Foster@fws.gov.

Trigg County: Take A Kid Fishing Day, West Cadiz Park, Cadiz. For ages 3-15. Onsite registration starts at 8 a.m. (Central). Fishing will be from 9 a.m. until noon. Lunch, t- shirts and goody bags provided. Registration forms are also available at Cadiz City Hall, John L. Street Library, and Trigg County Schools. Limited number of fishing poles available, participants encouraged to bring their own gear. No buckets allowed. Wayne County: Hooked On Fishing, Not On Drugs Kids Fishing Derby, Cave Lake Event Park, located off Cave Lake Road Circle, Monticello. Free event for residents of Wayne County. Fishing times divided by age; participants should register at least 30 minutes before fishing time. Fishing (all times are Eastern) schedule: 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. for ages 3-6; 10:30am-11:30 a.m. for ages 7-12; noon for ages 13 through high school age. Adults may fish for $10. Prizes, free T-shirts and lunch. Bring your own fishing pole, tackle, bait, drinking water and chair. Organized by Wayne County Defensive Action Against Drugs (DAAD) and other community supporters. For additional information, call (606) 348-7168 or (606) 348-7330.